Brick wall construction



Oct. 9, 1934. E. WEIL I BRICK WAII CONSTRUCTION muw 2 Sh'ets-Sheet Filed Jan. 5, 1931 @t.9,1934' E. wsu. 1,976,644

, BRICK WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 5; 1931 2 Shets-Sheei 2 Patented Oct. 9, 1934 NTED STATES PATENT OFFl-Eli BRICK WALL CONSTRUCTION Emile Weil, New Orleans, La. Application January 5, 1931, Serial No. 506,811

10 Claims. (Cl. 72127)' Tire present invention relates to a brick or masonry wall and the method of constructing the same, and has as one of its principal objects the provision of a wall having defined voids or air 5' spaces or channels provided in the mortar or binding material forming the joints between the masonry units, such as brick, stone, tile, etc., for the purposes of ventilating the structure in order to prevent moisture or water penetration through the inner joints of the structure from the weather surface thereof.

Another object of the invention is the provision celerity.

' the masonry unit may be made with case and Other objects and features of the invention reside in the particular assemblage and arrangement of the passages and the various steps or manners in which these passages may be provided, as revealed in the following specification and claims.

Tire accompanying dr.wings disclose several forms of the invention as well as several methods for providing the passages and the various implements used for this purpose.

In said drawings: Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a brick or masohry wall constructed in accordance with the present invention Fig. 2 is a sectional view.taken substantially on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, and showing the manner in lateral openings or passages may be which the formed in the mortar joint when either the tool shown in Fig. 11 or the inserts shown in Figs. 12 to 16 are used;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 4 showing a wall in which the lateral passages are formed by inserts shown in Figs. 17, 18 and 19 placed in the mortar joints to connect with the horizontal channels which have been vertical or formed by the tool shown in Fig. 10 or 11, or by the inserts shown in Figs. 12 t0 16;

Fig. 6 is a plan view showing the outer vertical course of a brick or masonry constructiontaken substantiaily on line 6-6 of Fig. 1, the mortar joint being indicated by stippling;

Fig. 7 is a similar view to Fig. 6, but showing a modified form of passage or channel;

Fig. 8 is an elevation ci a wall with the lateral drain openings formed in the inortar.jointsby' means of the tool shown in Fig. 10 or 'by the tools. shown in Figs. 4 and 10; V

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taLken s1ibstantially on line99ofFig8;

Fig. 10 is an isometric view of the tool usedin constructing a Wall in accordance with the prese ent invention;

Fig. 11 is a similar view of a tool of modifid construction Fig. 12 is an end view of an insert used-fcir forming the horizontal andvertical passages in the mortar joints;

Fig. 13 is a plan view of Fig. 12; v Fig. 14 is a side elevation of the insert shoWfi inFigs. 12 and 13; Fig. 15 is an under view of the insert in Fig. 14; Fig. 16 is a plan view of ablankfrom.which the insert shown in Figs. 12 to'15.may be.formed; Figs. 17 and 18 are .isometric views ofinsertS for forming the lateral channels;.afid Fig. 19 is an isometric view Of a.solid'insertf. a similar purpose made of porousclay or Other material which will permit drainage-or Seepage,- or the passage of air therethrugh. r j j, 1 The. invention broadly resides inprbviding cdn'' tinuous or connected vertical (and. horizontal drainage and ventilating channels in a wallin or masonry construction, in which bricks,,stone, tile or other building blocks or masonry.flnitsl are employed, and bound together. by a. binding} material forming a joint Ltherebetvveen, these. channels being in the joint formed by the binding material of the outer vertical course ofthe structure and connected With outwardly extending lateral openings or passages (alsoprovided in the binding material) so that flow oflany Water and/or evaporation of moisture will be toward the weather surface of the Wall.

Referring in detail to the drawings,the wallor masonry structure is composed-df building blocks or masonry units 10 arranged in courses or in. the customary manner with. mortar joints between each unit. A horizontal channel 12 (Figs. 2, 3, 6 and 7) isformed in the motar joint 11 betvveen the outer or facing units of each hori. zontal course and vertical channels 13 extend upwardly and downwardly from the horizontal channels 12 to connectwith the next adjacent horizontal channel, these vertical channels being also formed in the vertical mortar joints between the ends of the building units. Ihus it willbe seen that a network of connected passages niay be provided throughout the area of the brick or inasonry structure,- whichpassages lie Within the confines of the outer or facing course of the building units. Of course, if a heavy masonry structure or wall is provided, the channels may be carried into as many horizontal and/or vertical courses as desired.

This network of channels, formed by the passages 12 and 13, are connected by a plurality of latezal passages or openings 14 extending from said vertical network of channels to the outer' or weather face w of the structure so that water may drain thererom and air may circulate there' through for evaporaticn purposes. The passages 14 may be located above and/or beneath each building unit 10 or above and/or beneath each vertical joint and connect with either the vertical passages of said channel network or the horizontal passages thereof as the exigencies cf conditions require or the architectural considcratitns permit. The horizontal channels 12 may be uniform and parallel with the face of the outer units 10 as shown in Fig. 6,or they may be irregular asshown at 12'a in Fig. 7. In Fig. 7 the minimum horizontal mortar depth from the outer surface of*the building unit is at the end joints and the maximum at the center of the unit thereby forming a natural fiow toward the end joints, where, in this form ofthe invention it is desirable to locate the draining passages or openings 14.

Now, thereore, it is manifest that the present invention provides for a network of drainage and ventilating channels in a brick or masonry construction adjacent the weather or outer surface of the construction and which netvvork of channels is provided in the mortar joints between the building units in contradistinction to providing such channels in the building units or in the surface of the building units perse. It will also be seen that'the vertical and horizontal outer mortar joints 11a and the vertical and horizontal inner mortar joints 11b are distinct and separated by the horizontal and vertical drainage and ventilating channels 12 and 13 in order to prevent moisture or water penetration through the inner joints of the structure from the weather surface thereof.

practice,'the wall construction above defined may be carried out by several methods, for instance: Ihe horizontal channels 12 may be formed of wood or metallic strips or metal, re-

mOVably positioned on the surfaces of the building units 10, as thecourses of the construction progress, said strips being of desired or convenient 1engths and overlapping more than one brick or masonry unit 10.

The vertical mortar joints in this method are provided by buttering or applying the mortar to the front and rear corner edges of the ends of the building units with a trowel af.ter the usual manner, thus providing a vertical channel 13. Of course, it may be necessary for some of the mortar to be cleared from the center of the joint toprovide the chanriell3 of defined'shape and area' by pl,cing a wood or metal strip into the vertical mortar joint before said corners are buttered or thickness which corresponds at least to the thick.

ness of the joint to be used in the structure. The arm a of the tool is provided with a handle h so that the tool may be conveniently handled. The longer arm a of the tool, which forme the horizontal channel 12, has projecting therefrcm lateral arms (2, which act as guides for positioning the tool in proper location on the masonry unit so as to insure the proper position and interconnection of the channels to be formed thereb, and for the further purpose of forming the lateral drain openings or passages 14. There may be as many arms c on the tool as desired. The tool may be further provided with an extension d for projecting into the horizontal channel which has been previously formed on the adjoining building unit for the purpose of preventing said channel from filling up, when the mortar is spread, or from being accidentally deformed as the building units are progressively laid and the channels formed. At the apex of the arms c and 19 of the tool, a lateral extension 6 is also provided having its extremity e laterally extended With respect thereto and substantially parallel to the arm a. This extension c and its angle extremity e will serve as a guide for aligning the surface of the unit 10 about to be, laid with the wall surface, as well asproviding an opening or-passage 14 at the intersection of the vertical and horizontal mortar joints. In accordmce with the present method, the building unit 10 is placed into position and the tool 15 placed thereon as shown in Fig. 10. Mortar is thenapplied to the top face of the unit and spread, and mortar is also applied to the end corners of the face a: if the unit 10. The tool is then removed. Another building unit is moved to approximate position it will assume in the course and in end alignment With the preceding building unit, just described, and the tool 15 placed thereabout in the manner illustrated. The tool is then m'oved by the handle h toward theend ac of the precedingbuilding-unit-so as to move the building unit With it against the end :6, wh6reby the extension d will enter the channel formed on the preceding unit 10 and the arm b will be pressed into the mortared end of the preceding unit, thus forming a vertical channel 13, and the remainder of the operation is as above described. This operation isrepeated successively as the units of each course are laid. Of course, it will be understood that if the lateral drain openings 14 are desired at the intersection of the vertical and horizontal joints, the passages formed by the arm c will be closed by mortar after the tool is withdrawn, and vice versa. 7 The tool 15a shown in Fig'. 11 is similar to th tool 15 andis used in the same manner, the difference, however, being that curved spring fingers 6' are provided to act as a gauge for properly locating the tool with respect to the outer surface of the unit 10, instead of the fixed rigid arms c shown in Fig. 10. The bottom edge arm a et the tool 15a is scoriated (as is the tool 15) for contact with the surface of unit 10 to assist in moving the unit toward the adjoining unit to compress the adjacent mortar joints and press the arm b thereinto to form a vertical channel 13. Furthermore, With the tool 15a there is no means provided for forming the lateral passages or openings 14; but these openings may be provided by the use of the inserts shown in Figs. 17, 18 1 in before the mortar is spread and afterw ard withdrawn. The tool 16 may be of any desired crosssectional design. A V

Fig. 3 discloses another method of practicing the invention, wherein the network of connecced horizontal channels 12 and vertical chanel 13 are formed by T-shaped inserts l7, shown in Figs. 12 and 15. This insert 17 is made from treated or untreated paper or card-board and the arms J and 9 thereef are channel shaped in cross-section and have openings i therein to communicate the channel of said arms. The insert 1'7- islaid upon a unit 10 with one portion of the arm f resting on its top surface and the depending arm gagainst the end ther of; mortar is spread .over the unit on opposite sides of the arm f and on the front and rear corner edges of the said end of the unit; and then anotner unit 10 islaid under the other portion of the arm [and pressed into position against the arm g. AnOther insert 17 is applied in a similar manner and the aforesaid operation is repeated along the course. The arms 1 are of such length as to abut or slight overlap With similar arms of adjacent inserts forming a continuous horizontal channel 12 in each course connected by vertical channel 13 to other chanels 12 in adjacent courses. With this method the lateral openings 14 are formed by the chisel tool 16, previously described, or bythe interposition of insert shotvn in Figs. 17 and 18, which are laid into the mortar as the work progresses. If the cutting-t00l 16 is used its beveled edge j will force the mortar inwardly and upwardiy and will perforate the walls of the arrn g et the insert t0. insure a free air or moisture passage 14. v V

In Fig. 12 is shown an end view of the insert 17 formed from blank shown in Fig. 14, which is made of stifi" or heavy paper or card-boa1d folded together and either glued or stapled to maintain its f0rm, 76 being the outer face of vertical arm 9, and Z being the face toward the interior of the wall. This face l has a downward extension m below the outer face 79 to provide a scat on the building unit 10 below, The length of the extension m is equal to the thickness of the horizontal mortar joint of each course of units 10, thus providing an opening therein to communicaoe with a lateral passage 14.

The inserts 18, 19 and 20 shown in Figs, 17, 18 and 19 are for providing the lateral drain openings or passages 14 extending from the network of channels 12 and 13 to the outer or weather surface w of the wall, These inserts are installed in the mortar joint in advance of or after the horizontal mortar bed is spread and are provided With back surface or plate 18a, 19a and 20a, which permits them to be forced into the soft mortar joint, pressing the mortar inward1y and clearing the channels 12 and 13 (as the case may be).

The inserts 18 and 19 may be made of treated or untreated paper, but preferab1y of non-rusting meta1. The inserts 18 comprise two spaced op' posed walls 181) connected by the back wall 1805 and the side walls are notched or cut-away, as at 180, to provide openings to register with the horizontal channel 12 of the course. The insert 19 is simflarly formed except that it not only has a back wall 19a, but has a front wall 19cl, the face of which may be either plain or ornamental. This wall 19cl pr0jects slightly beyond the face of motor joint to provide drain and venti1ating openings 19e immediate1y above and below the joint. In Figs. 17 and 18 the line WW indicatasthe outline or surface line of the wall,

The solid insert 20, shown in Fig. 19,, of porous clay or other,material t0 permit drainage and ventilation:qf the innervertical and horizontal network of channels 12 and 13 and to afford, as well, an architectural efiect in the location of these inserts .at various selected points in the mortar joint. These inserts 20 may be plain or of such colors, as desiied, to match or contrast with the mortar or building unit 10. These inserts 20 may be of such length as to either extend from the weather face of w off the wall to the horizontal or vertical channels 12 or 13 (and notbeyond them) or to extend across the same, as indicated in full limes in Fig. 5 and dotted limes in Fig. 19.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A mas0nrystmature including a plurality 0f building units, Einding material formingsubstantially vertical and substantially horizontal binding joints between the opposingfas of the units, said binding material being dividedpby channels extending therethmugh dividing the joints intoseparate sections and forming a vertical network of connected passages throughout the structure, and passages formed in said binding material connecting said channels With an outer face of said structure.

- 2. A wall structure including a plurality of building units; laid substantially in horizontal courses, binding ma3e1ial forming substantially horizontal and vertical jointsbetween said units, channels formed in said. bindingmatefial, and connected to provide continuons, drainage and ventilating passages in the structure, and latex: a11y extending passages extending from said channels-to theface of said structure.

3. A wall structure including a plurality of building units arranged in courses, binding material between the opposing faces of said units forming horizontal and vertical binding joints therebetween, said joints being divided longitudinal1y by channels formed in said binding ma= terial, said channels in said vertical and horizontal joints being connected to form a vertical network of passages in the structure, and larafly extendimg passages extending from said network of channels to the outer face of the structure, said lateral passages being formed in said binding material and being disposed at intervals throughout the area of said network.

4. A wall structure including a plurality of building units laid substantiafly in horizontal courses, binding material .forming substantiafly horizontal and vertical joints between said units, channels formed in said binding material, and extending lengthwise of the joints formed thereby, said channels being connected to provide continuons drainage and ventilating passages in the structure, and insert bodies disposed in said binding material and extending laterally from said channels to the outer face of the structure, said insert bodies being water and air conductive.

5. A wall structure including a plurality of building units laid substantially in horizontal courses, binding material forming substantially horizontal and vertical joints between said units, channels formed in said binding material, and extendng lengthwise of the joints formed thereby, said channels being connected to provide continuous drainage and ventilating passages in the structure, and insert bodies disposed in said binding material and extendng laterally from said channels to the outer face of the structure, said insert bodies being ho110w.

6. A wall Structure including a plurality of building units laid Substantially in horizontal courses, 'binding material forming substantially horizontal ahdvrtical joints between said units, channels formed in said binding material, and eXtending lengthwise of the joints formed thereby, said channels being connected to provide continus drainage and ventilating passages in the structure, and insert bodies disposed in said binding material and extending laterally from said channels to the outer face of the structure, said insert bodies comprising a pair of spaczed side 'walls and a front wall connecting the side walls, the front Wall extending beyorid the face of the joint, whereby openings are formed communicating said passages with the exterior of the structure.

7. Means for providing channels in a wall construction composed of building elements arranged in courses and havingmortar joints therebetween, said mans comprising a T-shaped insert ghaLving its arms channel-shaped in cross-section,

said insert being adapted to have its oppositely brojecting arms disposed upon the top surfaces of two adjacent units and its depending arm interposed between the meeting ends cf saidunits before-said mort'ar joint is formed.

8. Means for providing channels in a wall constructiori composed of building elements arranged' in courses and having mortar joints therebetween, said means comprising a T-shaped insert having its armS channel-shaped in cross-section, said insertbeing adapted to have its-'oppositely projecting arms disposed upon the top surfaces of two adjacent units and its depending arm interposed'between themeeting ends of said units' before saidmortar joint is formed, and Iurther including other moisture or air conducting insert bodies.

9. In a wall construction composed of building units laid insubstantially horizontal courses and having a binding material forming substantially horizontal and vertical joints between said units, a T-shaped insert having connected channels extendingthrough its arms, the oppositely projecting arms being disposed on the surfaces ci. two adjacent building units*with its third or intermediate arm disposed between the meeting ends of th units, said arms being embedded in the material forming said-joints, the channels intermediate,arm disposed between the meeting ends of the units, said arms being embedded in the material forming said joints, the channeis cf adjacent inserts being arranged to connect-each other and to form a vertical network of substantially horizontal and vertical passages in said joint throughout the 'everal courses of the con struction, and means providing passages in said binding material between the exposedsurface of the wall and said network of passages.-

EMILE WEIL. 

